Albrecht calls for student support
To minimize damage to the quality of degrees at Utah State due to budget cuts, students must lobby and show support for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.’s proposed budget plan, said USU President Stan Albrecht at the rally at the Hub Wednesday.
Albrecht said the state legislature convened for a special occasion in September because Utah’s constitution states the state needs a balanced budget. Albrecht said USU had to make “enormously difficult decisions” when 4 percent – $6.5 million – was cut from USU’s budget.
Under Huntsman’s plan, which requires reaching into the state’s Rainy Day Fund, USU will receive an additional 7.5 percent cut to the budget – $12.5 million – totaling the budget cut to $17 million. If the state legislature passes their proposed plan, the cut will add an additional 15 percent – $23.5 million – totaling $30 million.
Albrecht said Huntsman’s plan “would provide additional cushioning, giving us more time to do what we need for (students).”
Because of talk of national economic crisis, Albrecht said employed people are acting as if they were unemployed
“There is a great deal of fear out there,” Albrecht said.
He said he recalled seeing a bus full of blind students at the Capitol in Salt Lake City asking the legislature not to cut their education funding. And on another occasion, he saw moms who have autistic children and supporters of the autistic programs pleading them not to cut their programs’ budget.
Albrecht said getting out of the economic downturn is dependent on the quality of education.
When asked whether the cut will affect tuition, Albrecht said it will have a modest increase. How much, he said he cannot say. It is dependent on which proposed plan the legislature passes when it convenes in mid- or late-February, he said.
“We have not yet hit the bottom of this,” he said.
He also assured students no academic departments will be cut, but many speculate if the budget cut is deep enough the university’s press, a nonacademic program, will see its last days.
Albrecht said he has received numerous e-mails from students about the budget cut and a great many suggested eliminating the athletics program. He said less than 1 percent of state appropriations go to the women’s athletics, while men’s athletics are funded through grants or self-generated funds meaning only women’s sports would be affected.
Anthropologist professor Patricia Lambert took the podium as an applauding crowd greeted her. To this she joked, “If only you would do this in my classes.”
She went on to say she was curious to know the level of education of Utah’s senators, the people citizens consult when it comes to tough decisions, such as the budget cut. She found 26 out of 29 had a bachelor’s degree and 17 had a master’s degree.
“Clearly, the people who we turn to these decisions have higher education,” she said.
With good education, she said people obtain critical thinking skills making them more successful in their career.
ASUSU’s Executive Vice President Jackson Olsen, who gave the opening and closing speeches, said the best way for students to lobby for the governor’s plan is to write a letter to their local legislator.
Albrecht vocally listed things he would like students to do if they mail their local legislature: tell how the quality of higher education is dependent on getting out of the economic downturn, the experience college gives, what area of study is involved and what kind of difference the money will make. He said to “treat them with respect. They’re not the enemy.”
“This is your opportunity to let your voice be heard,” Albrecht said.
Olsen said two buses will be provided, holding approximately 100 people total, to take students down to the capitol Friday. A sign-up sheet is located at the information desk on the first floor of the TSC for those who are interested. Students taking the bus are to meet at the University Inn at 8 a.m.
If students cannot make it to the rally, Olsen encourages them to sign the petition also located at the information desk.
He said the petition is to act as “a supplement for students to have their voices heard, even if they can’t attend the rally.”
The petition will be presented to the legislature before they convene to pass a budget cut plan in February.
–mark.d.vuong@aggiemail.usu.edu